In Newport, business and community leaders are working on attracting new residents and what they’re calling “lifestyle entrepreneurs.” They want to brand the coast as a place to live, work, and play to slowly convert tourists to residents — residents who will bring their businesses (and their money) with them.

But what impact will this actually have? Can the slow movement of one entrepreneur after another make a real difference to the local economy? Many people say yes, but Tim Duy, an economist at the Univesity of Oregon disagrees.

We’ll get into this debate tonight at a local watering hole in Newport’s trendy (and growing) Nye Beach. If you’re in the neighborhood we welcome you to join us at Cafe Mundo. The reception begins at 6 pm and the show starts at 7 pm sharp.

But for today’s show: have you recently moved to the Oregon coast? What do you do for a living? If you’re a long-time resident, what kinds of new businesses and people would you like to welcome? What do you think of the branding of the coast?

NOTE: We’ll be recording this show in front of an audience on April 19th at Cafe Mundo in Newport. There’s a reception at 6 pm and the show starts at 7 pm sharp. It’s first come, first seated, so get there early!